I-T raids at premises linked to Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar, kin

Income Tax department officials said simultaneous searches at sugar mills and real estate groups directly or indirectly linked to Ajit Pawar or his kins were being carried out.

The Income Tax department carried out searches at premises of multiple sugar mills and real estate groups, including those linked to Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and his three sisters. I-T sleuths searched official and residential premises of the linked individuals in Mumbai, Pune and Satara.

Maharashtra dy CM Ajit Pawar said he lamented the fact that his sisters, who have no connection with his firms or politics, were being raided too by the I-T department. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

The tax department has not revealed names of business entities or individuals being raided.

However, Pawar himself told journalists that the I-T department was raiding places linked to him and his three sisters. He also said he doesn’t know the purpose of these raids as he was tax compliant. I-T sources said premises of a company linked to Pawar’s son Parth was also searched on Thursday’s operation.

“It is true, I-T has raided a few firms related to me. It is their right…I don’t know whether they were conducted for political purposes or they want more information as we have been paying taxes on time. However, my only grief is that they conducted raids on the premises related to my three sisters. One stays in Kolhapur and the other two in Pune after getting married 35 to 40 years ago.I could not understand the reason behind raids on them,” said the deputy CM. “If they are getting raided because they are my sisters, then the people of the state should ponder about the extent of misuse of central agencies. I am repeating that I have no complaint over raids on sugar mills [related to me], they [I-T department] can do whatever they feel like but I am feeling bad for those who are not related [to my businesses] in that context and [if] people can go [to] this level…Raids were conducted on sisters [establishments] even when they have no relation with my firms and politics,” he said.

Reacting to the I-T raids, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Pawar’s uncle Sharad Pawar, said, “I came to know about IT raids on three of my nieces but don’t know why as they are not related to politics. As raids are still going on, I would be able to comment only after they are over,” Pawar told reporters before the raids ended.